[kreuzberger]

In a long line of Labour Home Secretaries, Cooper is not quite following through with the values and standards which we expected.

Sundry ghouls, goblins, and hobbits from the hate-fuelled terraces are being afforded cartes blanches while retired geography teachers are being slung in to the back of meat waggons.

What the hell is happening to decency and a rules-based system? Why are media outlets suddenly being allowed to cock a snook at OFCOM while under clear and unequivocable direction from Tufton Street and their mates?

[The Weeping Angel]

We expected or you expected?

[davidjay]

There's an element of 'Twas ever thus, but never has it been so blatant. I'm not sure the Home Secretary can do much about GeeBeebies but they can certainly have a word with a few Chief Constables.

[Abernathy]

Make the OP a bit less gnomic and I may be able to respond.

[Boiler]

I don't hold grudges: I've seen how they can eat people from the inside out and frankly, life's too short.

But for Cooper, I have made an exception.

[Crabcakes]

We expected or you expected?

Do you mean you always expected Cooper to suddenly lean authoritarian, or that it was wrong to expect a Labour PM to *not* lean quite so authoritarian?

[The Weeping Angel]

Being a Labour Home Secretary is a thankless job the right hate you because you're too soft and the left hate you because you're too right-wing.

[The Weeping Angel]

We expected or you expected?

Do you mean you always expected Cooper to suddenly lean authoritarian, or that it was wrong to expect a Labour PM to *not* lean quite so authoritarian?

I was responding to Kreuz.

[Crabcakes]

Being a Labour Home Secretary is a thankless job the right hate you because you're too soft and the left hate you because you're too right-wing.

On the one hand, yes absolutely. On the other, I think it’s arguable there have been let’s just say disappointing elements: heavy handedness on immigration crackdowns and border security, and obviously proscribing Palestine Action.

I admire a great deal about her, but I hope the hard line might soften a bit. The Tory and Reform approach to immigration and protest isn’t right. A continuation of the themes, if mercifully not the worst of the policies at least, isn’t the reset we need.

[Tubby Isaacs]

My view is that old geography teachers can be dragged through the courts just like anyone else who breaks the law. Levy fines, off to jail if they don't pay. Palestine Action wrecked a plane that could be needed to assist allies in Europe. That there's a significant chunk of the left for whom Ukrainians, Latvians etc are basically Russian anyway, is a source of huge disgrace. I can see why the Labour Right dream of not having to bother what these fools think.

But I accept it doesn't look like that to lots of people. And I don't know where the Government goes.

[The Weeping Angel]

Perhaps make PA a criminal not terrorist organisation whereby only membership of constitutes an offence.

[Abernathy]

An optimistic take from Jack Straw .

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... age-reform

[Oboogie]

Perhaps make PA a criminal not terrorist organisation whereby only membership of constitutes an offence.

It would require a rewriting of the definition of terrorism contained in the Terrorism Act 2000. In turn that will provoke accusations of two tier policing next time the Far Right attack a Mosque, asylum hotel or assault people of colour and are not defined as terrorists.
Has anyone demanded the proscription of National Action should be lifted yet? It can only be a matter of time.

[Youngian]

An optimistic take from Jack Straw .

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... age-reform

Straw makes some salient points and it should be remembered that Farage's net approval ratings are terrible minus double figures and as bad as Corbyn's were. A stop Farage campaign at the election could be as potent as Tory stop Red Ed or Corbyn tactics.